Cavaliers coach Byron Scott's final year with the Lakers coincided with future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant's rookie season.

The Lakers traded center Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 13 overall pick in the 1996 draft. They selected Bryant, a standout performer at Lower Merion (Pa.) High School.

Scott was a standout shooting guard for the Lakers. Bryant eventually replaced him. Thirty thousand career points later, Bryant was at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday.

"I had a chance to be with that young man for a whole year," Scott said. "I talked to him on a day-to-day basis. No. 1, he was extremely talented. No. 2, he was very driven.

"It was pretty simple when I asked him what he wanted to accomplish in this league. He said, 'I want to be the best player in the NBA.' At 18 years old. He has not wavered from that. I saw him from Day 1. I told him, 'If you keep working like this, you will be.' He will go down as one of the best players to ever play the game."

New shooting guard

C.J. Miles made his first start of the season on Tuesday. Miles, who started at shooting guard, averaged 12.7 points in his previous three games.

"He's been playing pretty well the last few games," Scott said. "I think his confidence is back. No. 2, just from a size differential of having Boobie (Gibson) trying to guard Kobe is too much."

Gibson had started the previous four games at shooting guard, but at 6-foot-2, he would have trouble guarding the 6-6 Bryant.

"Sometimes, it doesn't matter who you put on Kobe," Scott said. "Kobe can't beat him up. He's still going to get his touches and his points."

Scott said Miles' slow start could be traced to changing systems from Utah to Cleveland.

For the third time in three weeks, the Cavs will play four games in five nights. The stretch began Tuesday and will conclude Saturday, when the Cavs play at the Knicks.

Scott said he's not doing anything special to keep his players fresh, other than perhaps 30-year-old Anderson Varejao.

"With Andy, we want to make sure he has something in the tank after the fourth game," he said.

Scott said the biggest problem with playing so many games is the lack of practice time.

No restrictions

Scott said point guard Kyrie Irving doesn't have any restrictions placed on him.

"I have total clearance to resume his play as I see fit," Scott said. "I will watch him closely in the first quarter."

Scott expects Irving to be a little rusty. He missed the previous 11 games with a hairline fracture of his left index finger.

Where they left off

Irving said he expects to have the same on-court camaraderie with Varejao as he did before the former got injured. They are particularly effective running the pick-and-roll.

"Andy is one of our most consistent players in the NBA," Irving said. "Nothing will change. I've been playing with Andy for a year and half now."

Jamison tutors Samuels

Ex-Cavs forward Antawn Jamison, who came off the bench on Tuesday for the Lakers, said he worked out all summer with Cleveland forward Samardo Samuels.

"He called me," Jamison said. " 'I want to come down and work out with you.' He came down for two months. It was like boot camp. The dedication he showed this summer, I think he's finally getting it. I've seen the opposite side of it with him. Let's do some of the things that will get you to 15 years in the league."

Scott said it's all "between the ears" with Samuels. "Once he gets that down pat, he'll be in the rotation on a steady basis."

Jamison is wearing Scott's old No. 4 with the Lakers.

"That number is sacred," Scott said. "That number should be given to veteran guys who play the game the right way."